CONTACTS: Cara Schneider (215) 599-0789, [email protected] Donna Schorr (215) 599-0782, [email protected]
30 TOP PHILADELPHIA REGION ATTRACTIONS IN 2017 As Determined By the Philadelphia Business Journal
* All places featured are part of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s annual list of the region’s top 25 tourist attractions, unless marked with an asterisk.
Historical Sites & Attractions: 1. African American Museum in Philadelphia – Founded in 1976, the museum is the first institution built by a major U.S. city to preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage and culture of African-Americans. The museum takes a fresh and bold look at the stories of African-Americans and their role in the founding of the nation through the core exhibit Audacious Freedom. Special exhibitions and programs explore the history, art, stories and cultures of those of African descent throughout the African diaspora. 701 Arch Street, (215) 574-0380, aampmuseum.org 2. Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial – America’s most decorated battleship has become a floating museum and memorial where visitors can take in and interact with exhibitions of artifacts from the ship’s past. A walk down Broadway, the longest and most impressive passageway on the battleship, is part of the Turret II guided tour. The battleship also hosts special events and overnights. 62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ, (866) 877-6262, battleshipnewjersey.org 3. Christmas Village – From Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve, this open-air market echoes traditional Christmas markets in Germany. Dozens of vendors set up shop in the iconic LOVE Park to sell food, gifts, crafts and jewelry. 1501 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, philachristmas.com 4. Eastern State Penitentiary – The former prison introduced Americans to a new form of housing inmates: solitary confinement. Al Capone and Willie Sutton were among the 75,000 inmates who spent time here. Self-guided tours, a once-daily guided tour and a Halloween haunted house, along with exhibitions and special events, make the massive prison a favorite among those who dare to enter. 2027 Fairmount Avenue, (215) 236-3300, easternstate.org 5. Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site – Serving as a prime example of an American 18th- and 19th-century rural iron plantation, this early American industrial landscape covers natural resource extraction to enlightened conservation. Visitors experience the lifestyles and operations of the historic iron-making community through demonstrations and living history programs. 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, (610) 582-8773, nps.gov/hofu 6. Historic Philadelphia, Inc. – In locations throughout the Historic District, this organization offers immersive experiences that include period dinners, pub crawls and re-enactments that give modern-day visitors—especially children—the chance to experience Philadelphia’s rich history. Memorial Day through Labor Day, storytellers recount lively true tales at 13 Once Upon A Nation benches scattered throughout the district. Independence Visitor Center, 599 Market Street, (215) 629-4026, historicphiladelphia.org 7. Independence National Historical Park – Philadelphia’s iconic national park tells the stories of how American democracy came to be. Historic landmarks and attractions such as the Liberty Bell Center, Independence Hall, The President’s House and Franklin Court take visitors back to the time of the nation’s founding. (215) 965-2305, nps.gov/inde 8. Museum of American Revolution – This museum tells of the dramatic founding of the United States through historic artifacts, immersive galleries, theaters and re-created historic environments. Although several hundred Revolutionary-era artifacts are on display, one of the
most significant is George Washington’s Headquarters Tent, which served as Washington’s office and sleeping quarters throughout the war. 101 S. 3rd Street, (877) 740-1776, amrevmuseum.org -more- Page 2/Top Attractions In Greater Philadelphia
9. The National Constitution Center – The only museum dedicated to the U.S. Constitution suggests its visitors begin their exploration with Freedom Rising, a 17-minute, live theatrical production about the American quest for freedom. Next up: the interactive main exhibit The Story of We the People and Signers’ Hall, featuring 42 life-sized statues of the delegates present for the signing of the Constitution. 525 Arch Street, (215) 409-6700, constitutioncenter.org 10. National Museum of American Jewish History – This Independence Mall museum delves into the stories and contributions of Jewish people in the U.S., from early settlers to history-makers such as Albert Einstein, industry giants such as Esteé Lauder and artists and entertainers, including Barbra Streisand and Steven Spielberg. The venue aims to inspire in people of all backgrounds a greater appreciation for the freedoms to which Americans aspire, with four floors of artifacts, memorabilia and interactive media that tell its narrative in chronological order. 101 S. Independence Mall East, (215) 923-3811, nmajh.org 11. Valley Forge National Historical Park – No battles were fought in Valley Forge, but the time the Continental Army spent here went down as one of their most trying periods. Exhibits and artifacts in the Visitor Center, replicated huts and the original headquarters tell the story of the pivotal winter that George Washington and his troops endured. The 3,500-acre Valley Forge National Historical Park also includes trails and picnic areas. 1400 N. Outer Line Drive, King of Prussia, (610) 783-1000, nps.gov/vafo
Art Everywhere: 12. Barnes Foundation – Along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Barnes Foundation houses one of the finest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist and early modernist paintings in the world, with a jaw-dropping 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses and 46 Picassos, along with works by Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Degas, Seurat and Modigliani. The captivating collection also includes American paintings and decorative arts, metalwork, African sculpture and Native American textiles, jewelry and ceramics—all presented in Dr. Albert C. Barnes’ distinctive arrangements in 23 intimate rooms. 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 278-7200, barnesfoundation.org 13. Brandywine River Museum of Art* – The bucolic settings that inspired much of the art on view here—rolling hills, verdant meadows, a flowing river—surround the Brandywine River Museum of Art. For many, the landscape is synonymous with Andrew Wyeth, whose work is exhibited here alongside a collection of American art that includes works by N.C. and Jamie Wyeth. The museum also offers guided offsite tours of the Andrew Wyeth Studio, the N.C. Wyeth House & Studio and Kuerner Farm—all National Historic Landmarks—from April through November. 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford, (610) 388-2700, brandywine.org/museum 14. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts* (PAFA) – The country’s oldest art museum and school presents special exhibitions, an outstanding permanent collection of American art and work by some of the nation’s most talented contemporary artists, including PAFA alumni. The museum features treasures by luminaries Charles Willson Peale, Thomas Eakins, Nancy Spero, Elizabeth Murray and Kehinde Wiley. 118-128 N. Broad Street, (215) 972-7600, pafa.org 15. The Philadelphia Museum of Art – Vast collections of art from across the globe and through the ages—including Renaissance, American, East and South Asian, Impressionist and contemporary masterpieces—make the Philadelphia Museum of Art one of the most significant art museums in the country, while impressive holdings, exhibitions, lively programs and an
outdoor Sculpture Garden make it a cultural must-see. The museum is in the midst of a major transformation, undertaken with the architect Frank Gehry, and the new Gehry-designed restaurant, Stir, offers culinary inspiration and a locally sourced menu to complement the art. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, philamuseum.org -more- Page 3/Top Attractions In Greater Philadelphia
16. Woodmere Art Museum – Housed in a 19th-century stone mansion on six acres in the city’s Chestnut Hill section, Woodmere focuses on art and artists from Philadelphia, while bringing together this art with nature in a collection that highlights historical and contemporary art and outdoor sculpture. The museum also offers exhibitions and programs for all ages throughout the year. 9201 Germantown Avenue, (215) 247-0476, woodmereartmuseum.org
Museums Of All Kinds: 17. The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University – At 207 years old, Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences is America’s oldest natural history museum. Visitors of all ages can get face to face with towering dinosaurs, wander through a tropical garden filled with live butterflies, meet live animals, see three continents of wildlife in their natural habitats and interact with visiting exhibitions. 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 299-1000, ansp.org 18. The Franklin Institute – One of the leading science centers in the country and a prominent educational and cultural resource for Philadelphia demonstrates the science involved in life everywhere, from sports to space. Special exhibitions add to 11 hands-on exhibits, such as the highly interactive Your Brain and the newly reimagined SportsZone, and is home to the Fels Planetarium; the Tuttleman IMAX® Theater; and the Joel N. Bloom Observatory. The Giant Heart, a walk-through human corpuscle that would belong to someone 220 feet tall, was one of its first attractions and remains one of the most popular. 222 N. 20th Street, (215) 448-1200, fi.edu 19. Independence Seaport Museum – This family destination is the region’s leading waterways institute, right along the Delaware River. The museum connects visitors to the river and watershed through hands-on, interactive exhibits such as River Alive! and Citizen Science Lab, along with on-water programming and boat-building workshops. Guests can board the life-sized model pirate ship Diligence and National Historic Landmark ships: 1890s Cruiser Olympia and World War II Submarine Becuna. 211 S. Columbus Boulevard, (215) 413-8655, phillyseaport.org 20. Penn Museum* – With a collection of a million objects from across the globe, Penn Museum uncovers mysteries of the ancient past while connecting visitors to their own places in the arc of human history. Newly unveiled Middle East Galleries feature 1,200 fascinating objects, including one of the world’s oldest wine jars and 4,500-year-old crowning jewelry of a Mesopotamian queen. In November 2019, Mexico & Central America and Africa galleries open as part of the museum’s Building Transformation. 3260 South Street, (215) 898-4000, penn.museum 21. Please Touch Museum®* – Recognized as one of the nation’s top children’s museums, Please Touch Museum offers children and families play-based learning experiences across more than 60,000 square feet of interactive exhibits in Fairmount Park’s National Historic Landmark Memorial Hall. Special temporary exhibits, hands-on daily programming, original theatrical performances, art-making creative spaces and more are all included with general admission. 4231 Avenue of the Republic, (215) 581-3181, pleasetouchmuseum.org
Parks, Gardens & Animals: 22. Elmwood Park Zoo – Founded in 1924, the zoo features animals from around the globe, including bison, red pandas, jaguars, giraffes and zebras. Visitors love Treetop Adventures, a zip line park inside the zoo, which includes more than 50 challenging games and zip lines high in the trees. 1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, (610) 277-3825, elmwoodparkzoo.org
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Page 4/Top Attractions In Greater Philadelphia 23. Franklin Square – The historic city park delights the young and not-so-young with its old- fashioned carousel, playgrounds and Philadelphia-theme mini-golf course. Spring through fall, visitors head to SquareBurger for sustenance (burgers, fries and Cake Shakes, made with Philadelphia’s own Tastykakes). Annual celebrations include the Chinese Lantern Festival and the Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show. A new fountain show is planned to debut in summer 2019. 6th & Race Streets, historicphiladelphia.org 24. Longwood Gardens – The American botanical garden attracts visitors from around the globe to its 1,083 acres filled with 20 outdoor gardens, 20 indoor gardens, 11,000 different types of plants, spectacular fountains and picturesque meadows and woodlands. The horticultural haven also hosts 400 events each year, including flower shows, gardening demonstrations, educational programs, children’s activities, concerts and musical theater. 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, (610) 388-1000, longwoodgardens.org 25. Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania – The 92-acre garden in Philadelphia’s Chestnut Hill section offers an ever-changing landscape complete with colorful gardens, champion trees and beautiful fountains. Nationally award-winning exhibit Out on a Limb takes visitors 50 feet up into treetops on a canopy walk that requires no climbing. An outdoor Garden Railway features a miniature world with model trains on a quarter-mile track, open in summer and during winter holidays. 100 E. Northwestern Avenue, (215) 247-5777, morrisarboretum.org 26. Philadelphia Zoo – America’s first zoo leads the way with Zoo360, the world’s first system of see-through mesh trails that cross over pathways, connect habitats and encourage animals to travel and explore throughout the campus. So, as visitors move around the zoo, the zoo moves around them. Other wild highlights: Key Bank Big Cat Falls, PECO Primate Reserve and KidZooU, a wildlife academy of dynamic displays, rare breeds and hands-on experiences. 3400 W. Girard Avenue, (215) 243-1100, philadelphiazoo.org
More Fun: 27. McGillin’s Olde Ale House – Offering a vast beer selection, pub fare and karaoke, the popular Irish pub has been open since 1860, making it the oldest continuously operating tavern in the city—and one of the oldest in the country. The reason for McGillin’s longevity: good food, reasonable prices, an impressive selection of local and regional beers on tap and warm hospitality. 1310 Drury Street, (215) 735-5562, mcgillins.com 28. Peddler’s Village – With festivals for every season, stores for every type of shopper and the just- for-kids Giggleberry Fair, the village packs a surprising number of activities in its countryside, Colonial-style landscape. The Golden Plough Inn invites people to keep the fun going for multiple days. Routes 202 & 263, Lahaska, (215) 794-4000, peddlersvillage.com 29. Reading Terminal Market* – The circa 1893, always busy market houses more than 80 vendors of farm fresh produce, meats, cheeses, herbs and ready-to-eat meals—from cheesesteaks to Amish baked goods to Greek fare. Tours are available. 12th & Arch Streets, (215) 922-2317, readingterminalmarket.org 30. SugarHouse Casino – The casino features 1,891 slots, more than 103 table games and a 28-table poker room. The eight restaurants and bars, a multi-purpose event space and a seven- story parking garage help make the attraction one of Philadelphia’s premier entertainment destinations. 1001 N. Delaware Avenue, (877) 477-3715, sugarhousecasino.com
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